Today, we're taking a question from Alex from Washington D.C., who asks:

"To lose weight, am I better off running lots of slow miles or fewer but faster miles?"

The simple answer is running at any speed expends about one hundred calories per mile. However, running at a seven minute per mile pace does burn a few more calories than say running at a ten minute mile pace because of the added effort. So, in the short-term, running fewer but faster miles does burn more calories.

The problem is when you add on lots of extra miles in a high gear, you risk getting injured. Adding a few slow miles each week is going to create a steady calorie deficit and over time that's going to help you reach your weight loss goals.

Thanks for writing Alex, if any of you have nutrition or weight loss questions for us feel free to send them to rwedit@Rodale.com